Turning Bar Soap Into Powder

I tried making clothes detergent using a bar of Ivory soap, Borax and washing soda. The recipe said to put pieces of the bar soap into a food processor and process until I get a powder. I never got a powder just tiny balls. How do I get the powder consistency?

If you put the bar of ivory soap into the microwave, it will fluff up and look like Meringue. Then you can put it into a ziploc bag and smash it. It will be a very fine powder. My daughter and I did this just last week!

I set mine out in a small tupperware container without the lid, on the top of my microwave and let it dry out 9(about 2-3 months), then I grate it with a fine hand grater. I always buy more soap, than I need. So I always hve dried on hand.

Dry the soap out first, then add it to the processor with the washing soda and borax. The powders should keep it from clumping into balls. I use my bar soap for the shower and just save the slivers that are too small to use (and won't stick to the new bar) in a container. When I'm ready to make laundry detergent/soap, I always have enough for a double batch. This way, I feel I'm using something that I would have thrown out.

Does this suds up in the washer? Sudsing does not mean clean clothes. You can wash most clothes in just plain water, soda, etc. without any soap.

Art projects using the soap powder--a box shredder works. Some soaps have a soft base. When I buy new bath soap, I unwrap them and hang them in a net bag to dry. Makes the area room smell good as well! Soap lasts longer when dried out first before use.

I'm partial to liquid laundry soap so I just disolve my soap and other ingredients in hot water. I usually use Fels Naptha soap, but recently I started using a homemade lye soap (not the nasty harsh stuff - this is really awsome) and it works wonderfully.